The Peru Gazette

Foreman Chad Frechette holds one of the lead (gooseneck) connectors being replaced.

Peru – October 24 – Yesterday, Peru Water/Sewer/Parks Department personnel continued replacing 18-inch lead (gooseneck) connectors with brass connectors and galvanized pipe with plastic pipe along North Main Street.  Department Superintendent Courtney Tetreault said, “I believe the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to pave this street either next year or the following year, so I want to finish this work now. When a water line breaks, it’s usually a galvanized pipe installed in the 1950s or earlier. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t consider the lead connectors a problem, but it makes sense to replace them.”

Tetreault says he’s never seen a lead water line used in Peru; however, the EPA is mandating that every community survey all its water lines to determine the presence of lead. Several weeks ago, his office sent a survey to every customer asking them to examine the water line entering their residence or business. If a customer hasn’t or can’t state that the lead isn’t present, his water personnel must inspect the line. By November 14, customers who did not respond to the survey will receive a letter notifying them of this requirement.